The Lower North Shore region encompasses the municipalities of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott, Lynn, and Nahant. The region is characterized by densely developed town centers, and suburban areas fringed with wetlands and salt marshes. The North River, the largest freshwater source to Salem Sound, flows through the low-lying cities of Peabody and Salem. Environmental impacts of stormwater runoff, wastewater discharges, intense recreational usage, and climate change challenge these communities in their efforts to sustain safe swimming beaches, support fishing, and preserve coastal habitat.
Regional Coordination
The MassBays Regional Coordinator for the Lower North Shore is based at Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW), a nonprofit with a mission “to protect and improve the environmental quality of Salem Sound and its watershed.” Founded in 1992, SSCW has built a reputation as a resource for environmental education, technical support, and community engagement. Lower North Shore Regional Coordinator and SSCW Executive Director Barbara Warren has extensive experience training citizen-scientist volunteers, designing programs, and developing support materials, and directs the organization's work to:
- Engage hundreds of volunteers in collecting water samples, managing invasive species, and monitoring coastal conditions.
- Work closely with municipalities to devise responses to climate change.
- Partner with researchers to identify and examine the causes of water quality problems.
Additional Resources for Regional Coordination
Contact
Barbara Warren
MassBays Regional Coordinator
Salem Sound Coastwatch
12 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-7900
barbara.warren@salemsound.org